Graduate Student Checklist

Welcome to graduate education at Iowa State University!

As our graduate programs review applications, they will recommend applicants for admission to the Graduate College. Once you have received your official admission package from the Graduate College, you can begin planning your graduate experience at Iowa State University (ISU).

Students who are U.S. citizens are encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application to be considered for federal financial aid. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at ISU if you have any questions or need assistance completing the application.

Getting Started at ISU

What should you do first?

• Get your ISU Card.
• Register for your ISU email address.
• Review our immunization requirements.
• The English Placement Test is required for all non-native speakers of English (with limited exemptions).
• The Oral English Certification Test (OECT) is required for international graduate students who accept a graduate teaching assistantship.

Planning Your Arrival in Ames

• Transportation, directions, parking, maps
• Orientation Resources from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) 
• On-Campus Housing from the Department of Residence
• Connect with your program support staff.

Orientation & Onboarding

Orientation

• Graduate College Orientation is held each Fall semester with ISSO.
• Grad College will offer an online orientation for Spring and Summer starts 
• The ISSO holds orientation for international students each Spring and Summer semester.
• Contact your program support staff regarding departmental or major program orientation.

Register for Classes

• ISU Graduate College Handbook
• Graduate Program Handbooks
• Tuition & Fees
• ISU Schedule of Classes
• ISU Course Catalog (for course descriptions)
• Academic Calendars
• Your faculty adviser or Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) can assist you with course selection.
• Students on assistantship must take a minimum of one credit hour to meet the registration requirement of the appointment.
• Students not on assistantship must take a minimum of nine credit hours each fall/spring to be considered full-time.

Selecting a Major Professor

Many students will have a major professor selected as part of their admission to the program. Some programs offer rotations, where students spend a few weeks with multiple professors to decide which major professor is the best fit for them.

A third possibility is that there is a defaulted major professor for the students. This is often the case for students enrolled in coursework-only master's programs.

For students who are seeking support and do not have an adviser or major professor, the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) is responsible for acting as the temporary adviser for all graduate students within their major. Find the DOGE for your major on our contact list.

For Students on Assistantship

• If you have a graduate assistantship, you will receive an email notification regarding your required action in the ISU Workday system. If you do not receive a notification email, log in to Workday with your ISU Net-ID to view your Workday notifications directly.
• Common Workday actions and questions
  • Updating Contact Information and Emergency Contacts
  • Change Preferred NameWorkday Onboarding Quick Reference Guide for Student Workers & Graduate Assistants
  • Viewing Payslips in Workday
• View Stipend Deposit Schedule
• View Appointment Form
• Determine whether you are eligible for a Graduate College Tuition Scholarship.
• If you receive a tuition scholarship, the credit will be applied to your university bill as soon as possible.
• Student Health Benefits – Students with graduate assistantships are automatically enrolled in the Students and Scholars Health Insurance Program (SSHIP). At the start of the semester, you may add dental coverage or for your dependents.
• If you will serve as a graduate teaching assistant, consider the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching’s (CELT) Teaching Assistant Cohort Program.

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

The Graduate College is available to assist you in proceeding through your graduate program according to processes and policies available for you to review in the Graduate College Handbook.

Program Curriculum

Please refer to the handbook for your graduate program to review its specific requirements and policies.

Transferring Credits

With the approval of the Graduate College and your Program of Study Committee, coursework taken at another institution in the pursuit of a graduate degree can be transferred to your program of study for a graduate degree at ISU. Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook, Chapter 6, to review the Graduate College policy on transfer credits. You cannot begin the transfer process until you have selected a major professor and committee and are ready to complete your Committee and Academic Plan in Workday.

Things to Know

• Once your academic record is created in Workday, you’ll be able to navigate to your Student Profile and select that Academics tab in Workday. From there, you can review your Overview tab to confirm all the credentials you’re pursuing. Your Academic Progress tab will provide you a list of the Graduate College requirements to complete each degree/credential, while your Plan tab is where you will go to complete your Academic Plan.
• There are plenty of resources at ISU to support you and provide a positive experience during your time with us.
• Pursue a certificate in addition to your degree. See all the certificates available with the Graduate College. Learn more about the requirements to complete a certificate!
• The Graduate College Career Services office offers Iowa State University graduate students and postdoctoral scholars: Individual consultations, Group presentations, Resume workshops, Career Services Resources, and Cyclone Career Strategy.
• The Graduate College’s Center for Communication Excellence offers free individual consultations with graduate writing consultants. Students working on their thesis, dissertation, journal article, research proposal, conference paper, or poster presentation can make appointments with Disciplinary, Interdisciplinary, and English Writing Consultants. Students can also join graduate peer review groups, attend seminars and workshops, and access other various resources.
• MyState app has one place to find information on CyRide bus routes, classes, events, and more.
• Find on-campus employment opportunities at the Student Employment Center.
• Miliary Affiliated Center
• ISU Student Organizations and Clubs
• Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) represents the graduate and professional students’ perspectives on campus issues and serves as a liaison between graduate/professional students and the university administration.
• Professional Advancement Grants (PAG) are provided to graduate and professional students by the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) to help defray expenses related to professional meeting and conference travel. You are encouraged to apply 8–10 weeks prior to departure.

Questions?

If you have any questions about graduate studies, please contact the Graduate College at grad_college@iastate.edu.